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Philile Diepsloot


why Philile exists


Philile Diepsloot started in March 2010 in Diepsloot Ext 12, with 40 children. Based in 40 ft shipping containers, with no electricity and a limited water supply, it has been amazing to see the site develop into a real oasis in the heart of this community. In July 2011, our Diepsloot site expanded to cater for a further 60 children and has employed three more teachers. All five teaching staff are members of the local community and have been trained in pre-school teaching as part of our teacher empowerment scheme.
The children who attend Philile Diepsloot all live in the immediate vicinity and walk to school. Arriving ready for breakfast they are then kept well fed throughout the day with a hot lunch as well as snacks. Very few of the children speak English and teaching is carried out in a mixture of English and African languages.
2011 saw the addition of a much needed mobile clinic, run by Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre (WHWC) www.witkoppen.org, which visits the Philile site twice a week. WHWC run a number of other social welfare projects for the community including an Orphans and Vulnerable Child program. We are excited to be working alongside this great organization and are continuing to develop a complimentary relationship.

meet the staff

  Violet

Violet

"I am Violet Nzimande, I'm originally from Pretz, but I married a man called Julius Nzimande who is from Johannesburg. So we now live here. I've got three kids, two boys and one girl.
I love working for Philile because I love children. I even dream about them when I sleep. I used to work as an assistant for a nursery school in Sharonlea for four years. When the teacher was not there, I had to represent the teacher, to be a teacher. And now, I am a teacher. Working here has really changed my life, because now I can put pap-en-vleis on the table. And it's changed for my children's lives too. I am able to send my kids to school. My son is in college now, at Damelin, and I'm paying for that with my salary."

Violet oversees the site in Diepsloot. She completed the Play With A Purpose training in 2010, giving her the knowledge and skills that she needs to be a successful preschool teacher.

  Brenda

Agnes

"My name is Agnes Mere and I am staying here in Diepsloot, extension 12. Before Philile, there were many children suffering here in Diepsloot. THIS place is our dream; trees, green lawn, happy children. I am so happy that Philile exists. It took a long time to find this place. And now I'm a teacher at Philile, I have first aid certificate, I have the certificate of a teacher, I want to learn more and I want to give the children better education."

Agnes also completed the Play With A Purpose training in 2010.

Simangale

Elizabeth

"My name is Elizabeth, I am originally from Ndebele. I have two children, girls, and three grand children. I enjoy working here. My job is as a cleaner, I clean the classrooms, the toilets, and wash the dishes, and sometimes I help in the garden. I also play with the children, I enjoy the children. I've been working here from the beginning."

  Anna

Annah, Rebecca and Irene

Annah (pictured here) along with Rebecca and Irene have all graduated from the Play with a Purpose training in 2011. They are now fulltime teaching staff in Diepsloot, each with their own class.


Pricilla

Pricilla

"Every day we are happy"
Pricilla is the school chef and her role is to make sure the children are happy and fed during their time at school. She prepares a hot breakfast for them when they come in the morning, as well as lunch in the afternoon. She also prepares a snack for the children in between meals. With the expansion in the 3rd term Pricilla will be cooking for 100 children. She is a cheerful spirit and loves cooking for the children. She manages to do it all whilst carrying her grandson on her back.

  John

John

John is the sites very own gardener and has worked hard in creating Philile to be the beautiful oasis that it is today. He takes a lot of pride in his work, planting delicious vegetables that are cooked and fed to the children as well as beautiful flowerbeds that make the school look absolutely stunning and a happy place to be.